Still, it is Mr Ecevit whose party won the contest, so he will be first to try putting together a coalition.

ECONOMIST: A swelling tide of nationalism may change Turkish politics

"It's unpleasant, " said Einat Wilf, whose Independence party is allied with Netanyahu's ruling Likud.

CNN: Sarkozy, Obama bemoan Netanyahu over open mic

But Mr Ervine, whose party is linked to the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force, said on the BBC's Inside Politics programme it was now inevitable that the IRA would deal with the arms issue.

BBC: Mitchell 'confident' about NI process